Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-03-10
TIE BURGLARS.

Mr.. Cobhleshury came home to sup
per looking very grave, and sat down
to the table with one hand firmly press
ed over his breast-pockct.
What have you cot in your pocket,
PAP" inquired'the eldest daughter, Miss
Emcline.
.Hush." breathcd Mr.. Cobblesbury,
as he felt in his pocket for the thir-
teenth time III five minutes. Burg
lars
"Burglars in your pocket. pap cried
inquisitiye Marmaduke Cobblesbury,
aged Ii.
NO, son." said Mr.. Cobblesbury,
gravely: but I have $500 which John
Springs paid me after banking hours
to-day, and it is highly probable that
our house may be visited by burglars
tonight"
Mr.. Cobblesbury looked so solemn
that the twins, aged >, began to evince
signs of INDUCING in their fayorite
amusement of weeping in one another's
arms. All the family excepting
Charles Simon, the eldest son, who had
inst returned from college, became
rery grave.
Il have beer expecting a visit from
u,.relars for many years said Mr.
e., 5lesbury. 1T is strange we have
us ped so long
-frue," asserted Charles Simon.
g cry weIl-rcgulatcd family nowa-
da., must boast Of a visit from burg
r.r~ before they can take their proper
f. .tion in society. l learned that in
r,. .ge.'
M~armaduke thought it would be a
I'D idea to set steel traps in all parts
If he house to catch the burglars.
What do the newspapers say?' ask
81 Miss Emcline.
AEr. Cobblesbury could not remem
D.l having read any good recipe for
thing burglars. Charles Simon
cls 1ght he would write a book on the
subject IL q o rs he graduated at col
5r-.. But the principal trouble seemed
e. be how the family were to be
~ Aened when the burglars came.
The burglars will wake us fast
ugh" said Charles Simon.
But they might kill lis first" said
NJ. Cobblesbmry, innocently.
read in Il paper that the safest
Hav was to fasten a burglar alarm to
s.r'y door and window in the house.
s,o Miss Emelinc.
That would be a waste Of money"
a.,i-cted Mr.. Cobblesbury, flor no
h# ylar would break in at every door
aul window"
Besides" said Mrs. Cobblesbury,
,15 vincingly, 1.-The burglars would
steal the alarms"
why can't we put tar all over the
front stairs?" inquired M~armadukc.
Then pa and | could kill them in the
morning as we go down to breakfast,
f.r all the burglars would get stuck on
the way upT'
II do not wish to kill any depre-
dator, if he will surrender or leave
ir&cedhly,' said Mr.. Cobblesbury.
The only arrangement possible is to
arm ourselves to the teeth, and | will
conceal the money in a safe place"
The family coincided with this.
Mrs. Cobblesbury thought they should
retire early in order to obtain some
sleep before the burglars came. There
was some difficulty concerning the
armament required. Both Mr.. Cob
%blesbury and Charles Simon possessed
rcVo!vcrs. Marmaduke took the fire.
tongs and an old razor and tied a
leather belt around his waist. Miss
Eineline procured a small package OF
red pepper to throw in the burglars
eyes. but Mrs. Cobblesbury thought
this would he cruel and her daughter
compromised on black pepper, which
would not be so strong. The twins
wished to take the garden hose to bcd
with them, feeling confident that al
icy stream Of water would drive the in
truders away. They were eventual,
obliged TO be contented, however, witt
their pop-guns and Il small tin pal
filed with beans.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Cobblcsburv re
tired the question arose, what SHOULD
be done with the revolver? Mrs. Cob
blesbury declared she should die O
fright if the weapon were placed unde
the pillows, and Mr.. Cobblesbury final
ly drew up a chair beside the bed an,
laid the revolver upon it.
shall we leave the gas burnfng?'
inquired Mrs. Cobblesbury, n~ervously
Certainly not" answered her hus
band. 1.-The burglars would then b
enabled to move around with perfec
ease" Accordingly they turned OF
the gas and retired. Mr.. Cobblesbury
despite his years. was soon snorin;
vigorously, hut Mrs. Cobblesbury coul,
not sleep. In about an hour she shooI
her liege lord energetically, and ad
iured him to wake up.
YES, my love!' cried he, leapin.
upi ''giye ME the gun: I'll fix emf
mo. no." said Mrs. Cobblesbury
at isn't burglars-it's the pistol"
What's the matter with the pistol?'
quer.ed the husband. sarcastically. IL
the pistol siek?n
Il cant remember the way You lai
it, Samael," explained Mrs. Cobbles
bury, TREMENDOUSLY. Didn't YOU pu
it with the pointer part toward th
bedP''
We'll. suppose / did?"
oh. Samuel" cried Mrs. Cobble:
bury. ''tGrn it around quick: it ma
go off at any minute and blow us all /
p~ieces,,s
Mr.. Cobbiesbury reached out slee,
lily and turned the revolver around.
was now aimed directly toward he,
but, fortunately, Mrs. Cobblesbur
lacked the power of seeing in the darl
ness, and was comfortel.
Several hours later, Mr.. Cobblesbur
awoae from 4 thrilling dream in whic
be had killed seven burglars singh,
handed and was wading about in hl
man gore. He awoke with a yioIei
start and for a moment was hardl
. ! to decide whether he was SIT
dreaming or moi. Just as he arrive
At The satisfactory conclusion that |
was thoroughly awake. a tremendo,